Glenn Hamer It’s that time of year to hand out some honors for the year’s best. So it is without further ado that I bring you the Third Annual Hammer Awards. Impact Player of the Year: State Treasurer Doug Ducey The keeper of the state’s checkbook took down Proposition 204 in…

Glenn Hamer Governor’s task force making right moves on sales tax One of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s top legislative priorities for 2013 is to simplify our state’s sales tax system. Our sales tax is so complicated that you might be surprised to learn that Arizona does not technically have a sales tax.…

Steve Macias Picture the slow motion shots of Rocky Balboa getting pummeled by Apollo Creed in the first of that eponymous series of boxing movies and you get the sense of what the economy – manufacturing and otherwise – is up against with regard to federal regulations. In the course of one day last…

Glenn Hamer Following the results of the election, there appears to be a real window in Washington, D.C. to do something meaningful on immigration. The just reelected president has made immigration reform a first tier priority. And many Republicans believe that dealing with this issue is essential to restoring to their party some attractiveness with…

Glenn Hamer This week, our nation took time to celebrate the enormous contributions and sacrifices of those who have served in our Armed Forces. Just in time for Veterans Day, the Arizona Chamber Foundation released its latest policy brief, Economic Opportunity for Arizona Veterans. This new report highlights the importance of veteran employment and outlines…

Glenn Hamer In case you’ve been living in a cave, next Tuesday is Election Day. Here are a few thoughts about some of the folks that have distinguished themselves as true leaders and others who have made us tune them out this election season. The Heroes The Treasurer Treasurer Doug Ducey’s leadership on Proposition 204…

Glenn Hamer With less than three weeks remaining before the 2012 General Election, many Arizonans are getting ready to put their early ballots in the mail. Before you fill in those boxes with ink and head to the post office, please take a moment to review the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s recommendations on…

Glenn Hamer Last week I talked about jobs – the issue everyone should be talking about, but isn’t. Jobs and the economy are the number one issues for voters this election season. The majority of voters want to enter the voting booth armed with facts about the candidates on their ballot. They want to know…

Glenn Hamer The main issue that every candidate from president to town council should be talking about this elections season – but isn’t – is jobs. Every public opinion poll cites jobs and the economy as the number one issue. Voters want to know what type of policies candidates are going to support that will…

Glenn Hamer On Wednesday I joined Gov. Jan Brewer, State Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal and education leaders from across the state at an event at Franklin Police and Fire High School to roll out Arizona’s new Common Core Standards. The adoption of these rigorous academic standards is the right move to set Arizona’s…